Bleed for This (2016)

The inspirational story of World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza, who after a near fatal car crash, which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again, made one of sports most incredible comebacks. (imdb)

A very by-the-numbers inspirational film about maybe the greatest comeback in boxing story. Leaves the edgy and controversial side of Pazienza out in favor to a heavy-handed biopic of the sportsman who refuses to give in. Hagiography kind of done right, celebrating the character as a hero with scars and sacrifices, with some good dynamics between the leads (specially Eckhart) and some nice bits of Italian-americanism (Marty is exec prod), but it ultimately lacks talent in the fighting scenes.

Some serious liberties were taken in translating Pazienza's actual legacy onto the big screen. Regardless, I thought it was a story well-told, despite the same clichès that plague basically every boxing movie ever.

Apart from the very intresting story and the performance of Teller, not much is in this film. It is watchable but theres nothing special about it. Teller body going from ripped to normal from scene to scene is a bit distracting but what can one do..

Miles Teller is a fine young actor who continues to take on challenging roles that are allowing him to become a household name. Another one here in a film where perserverance was the name of the game and hearing Vinny Pazienza's story can give us all a bit of courage to rise up when called upon. A stellar film, Eckhart was fantastic as he usually is.

That hyperbolic plot summary suggests a minefield of Hollywood clichés, and to be sure, Bleed for This sometimes bleeds right into them. But writer-director Ben Younger (Boiler Room, Prime) has a way of punching his way out of tight corners. And Teller, doing work to equal his star-making turn in Whiplash, gives his all and then some.